Adjustable metal doorframe and method for installing same



Nov. 7, 1961 R. GOLDBERG 3,007,559

ADJUSTABLE METAL DOORFRAME AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING SAME Filed Aug. 6,1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i v I INVENTOR.

RALPH GOLDBERG ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, 1961 R. G-OLDBERG 3,007,559

ADJUSTABLE METAL DOORFRAME AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING SAME Filed Aug. 6,1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l P 76 /8 INVENTOR.

52 z .24 Rm. PH 601.0 BIS/P6 1 BY H6 ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, 1961 I R.GOLDBERG ADJUSTABLE METAL DOORFRAME AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING SAME FiledAug. 6, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 84L PH GOLDBERG flTTORNEYSUnited States Patent This invention relates to metal doorframes togetherwith the improved methods for installing and adjusting same.

3,007,559 Patented Nov. 7, 1961 element on the strike-side of the dooropening which function to maintain said jamb element in adjustedposition. Finally, the method used to install the instant frame isconsiderably simplified, faster and produces a better aligned assemblythan the methods used with ice - other frames.

One of the major problems encountered in the installa tion of bothwooden and metal doorframes is the proper alignment thereof so that whenthe door is hung therein it will fit, swing and close properly. Therough door bucks and header to which the finished frame is attached areseldom installed true or properly spaced thus necessitating the use ofseveral shims and perhaps even planing portions thereof: Also, it isnotat all uncommon to find that the 2 x 4s used to frame the rough dooropening are warped or otherwise deformed which again requires that thecarpenter go through the rather laborious and time-consuming procedureof correcting these deficiencies.

Proper alignment of metal doorframes sometimes involves'additionalproblems such as the insertion of the shims behind the customarilychannel-shaped frame elements. In addition, adequate structural rigidityalso becomes a problem especially if any appreciable space must be leftbetween the frame elements and rough buck.

Several prior art attempts to simplify the job of installing metaldoor-frames have met with only limited acceptance by the buildingtrades. One of the most successful, however, involves the use ofadjustable lugs on the hidden surfaces of one or more of the frameelements. These lugs usually have screws operatively attached theretoand accessible on the exposed surfaces which, when actuated, function toengage the buck and either increase or decrease the spacing between itand the frame element.- Unfortunately, however, although theaforementioned assembly constitutes a considerable advance over the useof shims, it still possesses certain deficiencies which limit itsutility for the purpose intended. Y

First of all, one of the most successful prior art structures of thistype has both ends of the header mitted to receive the jamb elements forslidable movement relative thereto in the direction of their lengths andan adjustment lug of the type aforementioned positioned at the upper endof the jamb element that forms the strike-side of the frame. Such anassembly, of course, provides for no adjustment in the Width of thefinished door opening if the jamb elements of the frame are fittedtightly into the mitred ends of the header. The only other alternativeis to Widen the door opening to the desired width by opening a gapbetween the header and jamb element on the strike-side of the framewhich is most unsightly and also materially reduces the structuralrigidity of the frame.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention toprovide a novel and improved metal doorfirame.

A second objective of the invention of the class described is theprovision of a faster and greatly simplified method for installing theframe.

Another object is to provide a metal doorframe assem bly that isadjustable to vary the width of the finished door opening irrespectiveof the Warped or otherwise deformed condition of the rough bucks, andyet, does not require the use of shims.

Still another object of the instant invention is the provision of ametal doorframe assembly that is structually rigid and contains no gapsat the corners formed by the jambs and header.

. An additional objective is toprovide a door casing that includes meanson eachelement thereof adapted to maintain same in a fixed positionfollowing adjustment thereof.

Further objects of the invention claimed herein are the provision of a.metal door casing that is inexpensive, lightweight, rugged, decorativein appearance and adaptable for use withnearly all styles and sizes ofdoors.

Other objectives will be in pant apparent and in part pointed outspecifically hereinafter in connection with the description of thedrawings that follows, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation illustrating the metal doorframe of thepresent invention in longitudinal section and attached to the door bucksforming the door opening, certain portions of the bucks having beenbroken away and shown in sections;

- FIGURE 2 is a transverse section to an enlarged scale taken-along line2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing the mannerin which the jamb element on thehinge-side of the frame is attached to the door bucks;

- FIGURE 3 is an. edge elevation to an enlarged scale illustrating theconstruction by which the upper end .of the hinge-side jamb element isattached to the wooden headerthat has been shown in section;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation showing the nailingtabs at the lower end of both jamb elements;

FIGURE. 5 is a URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a section taken along line 6--6 of FIG- URE 1, but to anenlarged scale, showing the adjustment section taken along line 5-5 ofFIG- screw located within the strike plate recess of the strike-Furthermore, the header has no adjustment lugs and is The instant metaldoorirame assembly, on the other I hand, eliminates the aforementionedproblems while providing for substantial adjustment in the width of thefinished door opening. Secondly, adjustable lugs located adjacent theends of the header are used to tighten this element of the frame downtightly against the mitred upper ends of the jamb elements thusproducing a rigid structural assembly with no gaps at the corners. Inaddition, the frame of the present invention includes a co- 7 operatingscrew and adjustable lug assembly in the jamb side jamb element;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary section taken along line 77 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged longitudinal section illustrating the mitredcorner joint between the jambs and header and one of the adjustment lugsmounted inside the header; and

FIGURE 9 is a transverse section taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 8.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGURE 1 thereof, itwill be seen that the improved metal door frame or casing of the presentinvention, which has been indicated in a general way by numeral 10,comprises a hinge-side 'jam'b element 12, a strike-side jamb element 14and a header 16 interconnecting the jambs. In accordance withconventional practice, the rough door opening is formed by 2 x 4 bucks18 arranged in back-to-back relation along each side and a double 2 x 4header 20 interconnecting the pairs of bucks at the upper ends thereof.Of course, an attempt 'is made to frame the rough door opening such thatboth finished jamb elements will be vertical and spaced apart the widthof the door plus about an Ma inch gap along each edge when the door ishung therebetween. And fortunately, however, shrinkage and warping ofthe wooden framing along with a certain amount of error customarilyexperienced in installing the wooden framing, most of the time requiresthat certain adjustments be made in setting the finished frame. In fact,it is not at all uncommon to find that the rough frame is intentionallyinstalled slightly oversize and shimmed to properly align the finishedframe because of the considerable difficulty experienced in enlarging anopening that is too small.

Now, as will become more apparent in connection with the remainingfigures of the drawing, each of the elements 12, 14 and 16 of thefinished frame is substantially channel-shaped and adapted to receivethe wooden bucks and header of the rough door opening along with thewall panels 22 or other finished wall surface; however, the specificcross section of these elements is of no significance to the presentinvention and many other shapes and styles are equally adaptable for usewith the adjustment features soon to be described. For a more completeunderstanding of the invention to which this patent relates, it would,perhaps, be helpful to outline briefly some of the more significantstructural features of the frame elements' illustrated herein althoughthey are to be found on nearly any metal doorframe. The basic crosssection is shown most clearly in FIGURE and will be seen to comprise aweb 24 having a more 'or less centrally located door stop rib 26projecting into the door opening therefrom. The side margins of the web24 having flanges 28 depending therefrom which extend in the oppositedirection from the rib but define a channel with said web sized toreceive the wooden frame elements and finished wall panels orunderlayrnent therefor. The inturned rear margins 30 of the flangesreturn to the wall surface and rest tightly against same to hold theframe elements in place.

The hinge-side frame element differs from that just described insofar asbasic cross section is concerned only reason of the inclusion ofhinge-recesses or mortised portions 32 adapted to receive the hingebutts 34 as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. The strike-side frame element,on the other hand, has no hinge recesses but, as shown in FIGURES 1, 6and 7 is provided with a strikeplate recess 36 located intermediate theends thereof. Header 16 follows the aforementioned cross sectionthroughout its entire length as can be seen in FIGURES 1 and 3.

Now, to proceed with the description of the novel aspects of the metaldoorframe of the present invention along with the method of installingsame, reference will be made to FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 8 wherein it will beseen that the header 16 is first slipped in place over wooden elements20 with the adjusting lugs 38 located adjacent opposite ends thereof inthe retracted position indicated by full lines. The inturned margins 30to the flanges 28 on header 16 frictionally engage the Wooden header andhold the former in place. Secondly, blocks 40 are nailed to the face ofthe wooden buck 18 on the hinge-side of the door opening in positionbehind the hinge-recesses 32 of hinge-side frame element 12. Theseblocks, of course, receive the screws 42 that are used to fasten thehinge butts 34 in place. Next, the hinge-side frame element 12 isslipped into place over the blocks 40 and wooden bucks 18; whereupon, itis leveled, aligned and permanently fastened in place by toenailing theupper end thereof to the wooden header 20 (FIGURE 3) through nail holes44 provided in the forwardly extendin'g tab-like edges 46 depending fromthe inside margins of inturned portions 30, and through nailing brackets48 located at the lower end thereof which are identical to those inFIGURES 4 and 5 on the bottom of the strike- Side fra e e ement 14.-Note in this o n ct n that the upper ends of the jamb elements 12 and 14are cut-out or mitred, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 8, to receive theheader; therefore, with the header lugs 38 retracted, there is noproblem in slipping either jamb element in place. The prior artalignable metal doorframes, on the other hand, mitered the ends of theheader to receive the jamb element which is much less versatile in thatit only allows the height of the door to be adjusted which is of littleor no practical significance.

Once the hinge-side jamb element 12 has been aligned and set asaforemention, one leaf of the hinge butts 34 can be mounted on the frameor, if desired, this can be deferred until such time as the strike-sidejamb element has been placed in temporary position. At any rate,whenever these hinge leaves are installed, they are merely placed in therecesses 32 provided in jamb element 12 and screwed into the woodenbucks 18 through blocks 40.

Following installation of hinge-side jamb element 12, the strike sidejamb element 14 is slipped in place over the wooden bucks, adjusted andfastened thereto in a manner that can best be described in connectionwith FIGURES 1, 4-7 and 9. Here again, the mitred upper end of thestrike-side frame element easily slips over the header with the lugsthereof retracted.

When the strike-side jamb element is slipped over the wooden bucks,adjusting lug 50 located intermediate the ends thereof is preferably infully retracted position as shown in FIGURE 1. Then, the door is hung onthe hinge-side jamb element in the customary manner and approximately aone-eighth inch shim is inserted between the door-receiving face 52 onthe flange 24 of the strikeside jamb element and the mating edge of thedoor. Thereafter, the strike-side jamb element is backed off the woodenbucks until it engages the shim; whereupon, it is nailed in place topand bottom through the holes 44 and brackets 48 provided for thispurpose. The final steps in adjusting the strike-side jamb element areto extend adjustment lug 50 until it engages the wooden buck, which, ofcourse, prevents the central portion of said element from bowing awayfrom the adjacent edge of the door and increasing the gap therebetween,and to turn screw 54 located inside the strike plate recess into thewooden buck to eliminate any possibility that the door would bind in theframe as would be the case if the central section of the strike-sidejamb element pulled away from the wooden bucks. Also, the aforementionedlug 52 and screw 54 cooperate to enable the medial portion of thestrike-side jamb element to be intentionally bowed in or out to conformwith irregularities in the mating edge of the door should this berequired.

The last step in setting the frame is shown in FIG- URES 1, 3 and 8-,and comprises merely lowering the header element 16 into the mitredupper ends of the jamb elements by extending the adjustment lugs 38 onopposite ends thereof. When the lugs 38 are extended until they engagethe wooden header 20 and force the metal header element 16 tightlyagainst the upper ends of the jamb elements, the entire metal frameassembly is held tightly and securely in place against movement in anydirection due to the interlocking connection between the elementsthereof at the corners which is most evident from an examination ofFIGURE 3.

Now, reference will be made to FIGURES 8 and 9 for a detaileddescription of adjusting lugs 38 and 50 which are identical. Strapbrackets 56 are welded or .otherwise attached in position to extendlaterally across opposite ends of the header element 16 andapproximately the center of strike-side jamb element 14. Each of thesebrackets is preferably provided with an offset portion 58 extending intothe door-stop ribs 26 which, at this point, is countersunk as at 60 toreceive the head of screw 62 The shank of screw 62 adjacent the headthereof is provided with an annular groove or section of reduced m t r64 d pt d to fit in o a no ch 6 provided in the edge of the offsetportion 58 of bracket 56. The foot 68 is of the adjustment lugs 38 and50, in the particular form shown, is generally M-shaped and has themiddle section thereof threadedly attached to the shank of screw 62.Thus, by turning screw 62 in one direction the foot is extended thereoninto engagement with the wooden framing and, when rotated in theopposite direction, is retracted.

Finally, the strike-plate recess 36 shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 is ofconventional design except for the inclusion of an opening 70 in thebottom thereof adapted to receive and substantially hide screw 54 whichis preferably reinforced by a washer 72. Otherwise, the strike-platerecess is formed by a generally cup-shaped element 74 having flanges 76thereon that overlie a mortised portion '78 on the door-receiving faceof the strike-side jamb element and a coverplate 80 therefor.

Having thus described the several useful and novel features of the metaldoorframe of the present invention along with the improved method ofinstalling same, it will be apparent that the many worthwhile objectivesfor which it was designed have been achieved. I realize, however, thatwhile only a single specific embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described in connection with the accompanying drawings,that certain changes and modifications therein may well occur to thoseskilled in the art within the broad teaching hereof; hence, it is myintention that the scope of protection afforded hereby shall be limitedonly insofar as said limitations are expressly set forth in the appendedclaims that follow.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable metal doorframe comprising, a header element, astrike-side jamb element and a hinge-side jamb element each having asubstantially identical generally channel-shaped cross section whichincludes a web with a pair of flanges depending from the opposite sidemargins thereof in position to lap the wooden frame elements forming adoor opening, the upper ends of the jamb elements being mortised toreceive and receive the ends of the header by selective adjustablemovement thereof in the direction of the length of said jamb ele-v mentswhen positioned within a door opening, and means located on the insideof the webs of the header element and strike-side jamb element foradjusting same relative to one another and relative to the hinge-sidejamb element, said means including extendable lugs mounted adjacent eachend of the header and intermediate the ends of the strike-side jambelement for relative movement toward and away from the webs thereof,said extendable lugs of the header being adapted to move the header intoengagement with the jarnbs and hold same in assembled relation whereinthe means for adjusting the strikeside jamb element relative to theheader and hinge-side jamb element includes a screw passing through theWeb adjacent the extendable lug carried thereby, said screw being of alength adapted to enter a wooden frame element upon which the hinge-sidejamb element is mounted and hold the extendable lug in engagementtherewith.

2. The adjustable metal doorframe as set forth in claim 1 in which, thestrike-side jamb element includes a strike plate positioned intermediatethe ends thereof having a cup-like depression extending into the channeland adapted to receive the door latch, and in which the screw passingthrough the web is located in the bottom of the cup-like depression inthe strike plate.

Zahner et al. Nov. 16, 1926 Evans May 27, 1958

